Instant Mouse Trap - Patent 4161079

The present invention is related to rodent traps and is especially concerned with improvement in a covered disposable mousetrap.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe problem of trapping rodents and similar pests is one which mankind has been facing since prehistoric times. Numerous types of traps have been proposed, including those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,864,866; 3,398,478; and 2,962,836.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA trap for rodents, mice and the like constructed in accordance with the present invention includes an enclosure with provisions for at least one opening to allow the rodent to enter the enclosure, means, such as a sticky inner surface, forensnaring the rodent therein and externally operable means for uncovering or exposing to air bait material within the enclosure. This externally operable means may be a pedestal which extends without the enclosure and may be pressed into it to rupture aplastic membrane covering the bait, or it may take other forms.The resultant trap has the virtue of long shelf life since the bait may remain enclosed until the unit is ready for use.The invention is especially adaptable for a disposable trap as it may be constructed of relatively inexpensive materials. The enclosure isolates the ensnared pest and aids in keeping him in the unit, and allows for the entire trap to be pickedup and disposed of without touching the pest itself.The enclosure is preferably made of opague material so that the user need not view the pest in total, but is also provided, in accordance with one feature of the invention, with a small window or viewing slit so that the presence of a trappedpest can be easily observed.The invention, together with the advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify likeelements. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURESFIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the

United States Patent 119]
[ii] 4,161,079
[45] Jul. 17,1979
Hill
[54] INSTANT MOUSE TRAP
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
1463757 11/1966 France
[76] Inventor:
43/131
Isaac Hill, 6340 S. Honore Stâ¨Chicago, 111. 60636
Primary ExaminerâNicholas P. Godiciâ¨Assistant ExaminerâRobert P. Olszewskiâ¨Attorney, Agent, or FirmâRichard G. Kinney
[21] Appl. No.: 864,534
[57]
ABSTRACT
[22] Filed:
Dec. 27,1977
A disposable trap comprising odorless rubberized glueâ¨or like sticky surface for capturing a mouse or like pest,â¨a cover over the surface which has provisions for atâ¨least one opening therein for allowing the mouse toâ¨enter, is disclosed, wherein a window or like is providedâ¨for allowing the user to inspect the interior to see if aâ¨mouse is trapped therein, and wherein externally actiÂ¬â¨vated internal bait means are provided which bait isâ¨stored in an enclosure, is in a sealed condition, butâ¨which may be exposed within the covered trap by maÂ¬â¨nipulating an external activator such as a push up pedesÂ¬â¨tal which is pushed up to break a membrane within theâ¨trap and expose a change of bait material.
[51] Int.Q.2
[52] U.S. CI.
A01M 23/00
43/58; 43/114;
43/131
43/58, 114, 115, 116,
43/131, 121
[58] Field of Search
[56]
References Cited
4
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
2,291,358 7/1942 Treadwell et al
2,896,361 2/1959 Allen
2,962,836 12/1960 Hughes
3,094,805 6/1963 Luck
3,320,692 5/1967 Hellen
43/131â¨43/131â¨43/58â¨43/131â¨43/131
10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures
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U.S. Patent
4,161,079
Jul. 17, 1979
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4,161,079
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cement or glue. The use of such a material in rodentâ¨traps is by itself old, as shown in the aforementionedâ¨U.S. Pat. No. 3,398,478 or 2,962,836 patents. It is preferÂ¬â¨ably an odorless, non-aromatic substance and serves toâ¨The present invention is related to rodent traps and is 5 trap the mouse or other rodent in a mesh of glue.
especially concerned with improvement in a covered The trap 10 includes a ramp 20 attached at one end ofâ¨disposable mousetrap. the floor 14 which ramp 20 may be folded up during
storage and shipment and may be pivoted down to
provide an easy access route to the interior of the enclo-â¨The problem of trapping rodents and similar pests is 10 sure 12 through an opening 22. The opening 22 is pref-â¨one which mankind has been facing since prehistoricâ¨times. Numerous types of traps have been proposed,â¨including those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,864,866;
INSTANT MOUSE TRAP
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
erably simply the end edge of the roof 16 and during
storage or shipping, prior to use, is covered by a protecÂ¬â¨tive shield or seal sheet 24 with the ramp 20 folded up,â¨as shown better in FIG. 2. The sheet 24 may be of clearâ¨plastic such as SARANWRAP (trademark) or of celloÂ¬â¨phane or the like, or may also be of metal foil glued withâ¨a pressure sensitive adhesive to the edge or adjacentâ¨outer surface of the roof 16 and floor 14. It is attached
3,398,478; and 2,962,836.
15
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A trap for rodents, mice and the like constructed inâ¨accordance with the present invention includes an enÂ¬â¨closure with provisions for at least one opening to allowâ¨the rodent to enter the enclosure, means, such as a 20â¨sticky inner surface, for ensnaring the rodent thereinâ¨and externally operable means for uncovering or exposÂ¬â¨ing to air bait material within the enclosure. This exterÂ¬â¨nally operable means may be a pedestal which extendsâ¨without the enclosure and may be pressed into it to 25â¨rupture a plastic membrane covering the bait, or it mayâ¨take other forms.
about the edge of the opening 22 and may be easilyâ¨removed, as shown in FIG. 1, or an encircling tear stripâ¨similar to that commonly used in cigarette packagesâ¨may be provided about the enclosure, or a line of weakÂ¬â¨ened surface area provided in the plastic so as to faciliÂ¬â¨tate its removal. The trap 10 is also provided with adheÂ¬â¨sive tabs 29, located preferably at the corners of theâ¨bottom of the floor 14 and also on one side which tabs
may be of the double tape land with a release paper overâ¨the adhesive. These tabs would allow the user to posiÂ¬â¨tion and secure the trap where desired, even on anâ¨inclined surface, or on a wall surface at, e.g., the base
The resultant trap has the virtue of long shelf lifeâ¨since the bait may remain enclosed until the unit isâ¨ready for use.
The invention is especially adaptable for a disposableâ¨trap as it may be constructed of relatively inexpensiveâ¨materials. The enclosure isolates the ensnared pest and
aids in keeping him in the unit, and allows for the entire . ,
trap to be picked up and disposed of without touching 35 ^ransParen^ S^P Â°f window 30 which is preferablyâ¨the pest itself. made of clear plastic or cellophane, and which allows
The enclosure is preferably made of opague material user easily inspect the trap to see if a mouse or
so that the user need not view the pest in total, but is Pes^ entrapped therein. The strip 30 runs parallel
also provided, in accordance with one feature of the the long axis and allows a full inspection of the glue
invention, with a small window or viewing slit so that 40 sur^ace ^ while the opague portion of the roof 16
the presence of a trapped pest can be easily observed. shields the perhaps unsightly entrapped animal from full
The invention, together with the advantages thereof, view. The opposite end wall 28 of the relatively small
may best be understood by reference to the following ^raP *s preferably sealed off. Adjacent that wall is an
description taken in connection with the accompanying externally operable bait unit 32 which is better seen in
drawings, in the several figures of which like reference 45 FIGS. 3 and 4.â¨numerals identify like elements.
30
molding height.
In accordance with one feature of the invention, theâ¨upper portion of the enclosure 12 is provided with a
Referring to those figures, the bait unit comprises aâ¨hollow cylindrical ring 34, formed of an up-turned porÂ¬â¨tion of the floor 14, a push-up piston or pedestal 40â¨which includes bait material 42. The pedestal 40 is, asâ¨50 shown in FIG. 3, during storage covered by a plastic orâ¨like membrane 44 and is movable from the storage posiÂ¬â¨tion to the activated position by pushing it upward fromâ¨below the floor 14 so as to rupture the membrane 44 asâ¨shown in FIG. 4 and expose the bait material. Althoughâ¨55 numerous ways of achieving the same effect may beâ¨adopted, the particular way shown, which is the presÂ¬â¨ently preferred mode, is to form the plastic membraneâ¨44 as part of the outside of the trap 10 (which plasticâ¨layer may also serve to cover the window 30 and toâ¨Referring to FIG. 1, there is depicted a trap con- 60 provide the releasable seal) and to form it into the ring
34 as shown with the bait pedestal held in place by aâ¨round adhesive coated sheet 50 which also serves to seal
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment ofâ¨the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an end view of the trap of FIG. 1;â¨FIG. 3 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of aâ¨portion of the trap of FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 showingâ¨parts in moved position; and
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiÂ¬â¨ment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
structed in accordance with the principles of the presentâ¨invention and generally designated by the number 10.â¨The trap is of the type and size that can be used forâ¨catching mice but the general principles of the invenÂ¬â¨tion may be applied to larger traps.
The trap 10 includes an enclosure 12 which has a baseâ¨or floor 14 and arching roof 16. The floor 14 is coveredâ¨with a pest ensnaring material 18 such as rubberized
the bait unit 40 and bait material 42.
As shown in phantom lines in FIG. 4, the bait pistonâ¨65 40 can be only advanced so far into the enclosure when
the sheet 50 restrains further advances. The advancingâ¨of the sheet 50 to the bottom of the piston 40 prevents itâ¨from easily falling out of the ring 34.
4,161,079
3
4
In FIG. 5 a second embodiment of the invention isâ¨depicted and designated 10'. This version is of a largerâ¨size unit with a floor 14, a glue inner surface 18 and hasâ¨an opening at both ends and a centrally located bait unitâ¨32'. The pair of slits involves 30 and 30' along the roof 5â¨16. This unit is higher and wider than the previous oneâ¨and can accomodate larger pests and/or a larger numÂ¬â¨ber of pests.
This second embodiment 10' also has side mountedâ¨double back tape 29 for mounting it to a floor or on a 10â¨wall above the floor level; e.g., at base molding height.
The embodiments described, while the currentlyâ¨contemplated best mode of practicing the invention,â¨should not be considered as exhaustive as the principlesâ¨of the invention may find expression in many forms.
The traps 10 and 10' are preferably made with a cardÂ¬â¨board roof and floor with a thicker and stronger cardÂ¬â¨board used as the floor. The windows 30, 30' may beâ¨simply cutouts from the cardboard but are preferablyâ¨covered by clear plastic which may be the outer wrap- 20â¨ping of the trap and may also serve as the membrane 44â¨for the bait unit and the end seals, such as 24. An overallâ¨outer surface wrapping, e.g., heat-shrunk plastic, alsoâ¨serves to rigidify the enclosure. Of course, if desiredâ¨separate units of plastic may be provided. The sticky 25â¨rubberized surface 18 is preferably approximately aâ¨quarter of an inch in thickness and extends over theâ¨entire flat floor surface. The enclosure 14 may also beâ¨formed of other materials such as hard plastic. The trapâ¨10 is preferably about 4 inches by six inches long inside 30â¨and 2\ inches high. The trap 10' is preferably fourâ¨inches in width by ten inches in length by three inchesâ¨in height.
The bait material is preferably a gelatinous materialâ¨impregnated with a favor such as peanut butter, prune, 35 leasably securing it in a desired location,â¨pineapple or wheat. Of course, other bait materials mayâ¨be used without departing from the principles of theâ¨present invention.
While two particular embodiments of the invention
whereby covered bait material may be stored for aâ¨long period pf time and yet easily released whenâ¨desired.
2. The invention of claim 1 wherein:
said enclosure includes a window through which aâ¨user may look to see if a mouse or like pest is enÂ¬â¨trapped therein.
3. The trap of claim 1 wherein means for releasablyâ¨securing the trap to a surface are provided.
4. The trap of claim 1 wherein said externally operaÂ¬â¨ble means is a piston which when moved inward rupÂ¬â¨tures a membrane to expose bait material within theâ¨interior of the trap.
5. A trap for mice or like pests comprising, in combi-
15 nation;
a floor upon which there is provided a coating of
pest-enmeshing sticky material,â¨a covering over the floor which covering defines at
least one entrance for the pest to enter,â¨a bait unit extending within the enclosure formed byâ¨said floor and covering and including means operaÂ¬â¨ble from the outside of the enclosure to expose orâ¨release bait material from the unit within the encloÂ¬
sure.
6, The trap of claim 5 wherein:
the covering includes at least one window throughâ¨which the surface of the floor may be viewed toâ¨determine the presence of a pest; and
said bait unit includes a membrane over a change ofâ¨bait material within the enclosure and a pistonâ¨movable from the bottom surface of the floor toâ¨rupture the membrane.
7. The trap of claim 6 wherein said trap is made ofâ¨light weight disposable material and has means for re-
8. The trap of claim 7 wherein the trap is entirelyâ¨enclosed and a removable sealing sheet is releasablyâ¨secured over its opening, so that the trap may be storedâ¨for a long period of time and then activated by remov-â¨have been shown and described, it will be obvious to 40 ing the sheet over the opening and activating the bait
unit.
those skilled in the art that changes and modificationsâ¨may be made without departing from the invention inâ¨its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the apÂ¬â¨pended claims is to cover all such changes and modifiÂ¬â¨cations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the 45â¨invention.
9. In a trap for a mouse or the like of the type havingâ¨an enclosure in which the pest may enter and be held,â¨the improvement comprising:
a bait material covered by a membrane coupled to the
enclosure; andâ¨means for manual operation from without the encloÂ¬â¨sure, for rupturing the membrane covering the baitâ¨material to thereby expose said bait material withinâ¨the interior of the enclosure of the trap.
10. The improvement in a trap for a mouse or the likeâ¨of claim 9 wherein said means for manual operation is aâ¨piston that may be pushed inward to stretch and ruptureâ¨the membrane.
I claim:
1. A trap for rodents or like pests comprising:â¨an enclosure for the pest to enter;â¨means for ensnaring the pest in the enclosure;â¨a charge of separately covered bait material mounted
to the enclosure;â¨means for uncovering said covered bait materialâ¨within the enclosure, said means for uncoveringâ¨being operable externally of said enclosure, 55
50
60
65